Method and Device for Storing and Retrieving a Disk

ABSTRACT

An innovative storage case for containing a media disk is disclosed herein. The disk case includes a base; a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk. The tray is slidable above the base between an internal, locked position and an external, released position. When the tray is forced inward from the locked position, the tray is pushed out to the external, released position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and device for storing and retrieving media disk.

A jewel case is commonly used for packaging and containing disk media such as compact disks (“CD's”) and digital video disks (“DVD's”). The jewel case is typically made of plastic, with two opposing transparent halves hinged together to form the casing. The front lid and the back half can pivot to open and close the casing. A media tray is mounted on the back half gripping the disk by its central aperture.

In this conventional design of the disk case, when a user intends to retrieve the disk from the case, he or she has to pivot the front lid away from the back half, which requires sufficient space for the front lid's pivoting. This need for additional space when opening and closing the case creates considerable inconvenience, especially where multiple disk cases are disposed side by side. The user needs to take out a selected disk case from the stack of cases before he or she can open the case. U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,763 (“the '763 Patent”), issued to Kwok Din Lau on May 29, 2001, represents one of many examples that describe the conventional design of the disk case.

Another problem posed for use of jewel disk cases is how to arrange and organize a large number of them. The conventional approaches, such as placing them in a specially customized rack or a regular shelf, fail to provide an orderly, flexible, yet cost-effective method to arrange disk cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given the above deficiencies of prior art, there is a need for a case that stores and contains a media disk, such as CD's and DVD's, Blu-ray disks (“BD”), micro chips and/or any other forms of storage devices. According to the present invention, the disk is received by a tray that is disposed within the case and such tray is slidable in relation to the base of the case. The innovative case includes a structure that enables stacking a plurality of the cases side by side in horizontal and vertical arrays to arrange them in a flexible and organized manner.

The media disk case in accordance with the present invention includes a base, a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk. The tray is slidable above the base between a position internal to the case, in a locked position and a position external to the case, in a released position. When the tray is forced inward from the locked position, it will be pushed out to the external, released position.

Advantageously, the innovative case includes a resilient bar mounted on the base. The resilient bar exerts bias against the tray when forced inward from the locked position. The case preferably has a hook for engaging the tray when the tray is forced inward from the released position.

Preferrably, the tray has an island mounted thereon for the hook to engage therewith. The island forms a path for guiding the hook to a position to release the island when the tray is forced inward from the locked position. Optionally, the hook is made of a resilient material such that the hook is biased to return to an original state. The case further includes two rails mounted on the base, the two rails being spaced from each other and each forming a track for the tray to slide through.

In one aspect of the invention, the slidable tray has a protruded portion for engaging the media disk. The protruded portion may consist of a plurality of resilient tabs. The tabs are biased against the circumference of the central aperture of the disk to engage the disk such that when the tabs are depressed, the disk is out of engagement by the tabs.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the media disk case comprises a base, a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk; and a fastener for attaching the case to one another in horizontal or vertical directions. The cover and the base each have a groove that matches each other when in the closed configuration, and the grooves are adapted to receive the fastener. The groove is advantageously of cove shape, and the fastener is made of a resilient material that can snap in the cove-shaped groove.

Preferrably, the fastener includes two expanded portions in its two ends. The fastener can be detachably connected to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a media disk case in its open configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 provides a top view of a media disk case in its closed configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts various components of an exemplary disk tray in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a disk base according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts various components of an exemplary disk tray and an exemplary base as well as the disk tray's locking and releasing movement.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary disk tray in its released position.

FIG. 7 provides a top view of a plurality of disk cases according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the disk case 100 according to the present invention. The disk case 100 is designed for containing a media disk such as CD's and DVD's, Blu-ray disks (“BD”), micro chips and/or any other forms of storage devices. The disk case 100 includes a disk tray 110 disposed within the case, that is slidable in relation to the base 120 of the case 100.

Other than the base 120 and the slidable tray 110, the disk case 100 encompasses a cover 140 pivotally connected with the base 120 through a hinge portion 150 and rotatable between an open configuration (as shown in FIG. 1) and a closed configuration (as shown in FIG. 2, which provides a top view of the disk case 100 when closed). The disk tray 110 is designed for receiving a media disk such as CD's, DVD's, BD's, micro chips, and other forms of storage devices. In some embodiments, patterns such as disk shapes are carved on the cover 140, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The disk tray 110 is disposed over the base 120, having two walls 320 a, 320 b (shown in FIG. 3) spaced apart from each other to detachably engage two rails 160 a, 160 b mounted on the base 120, whereby the disk tray 110 can slide inward and outward in relation to the base 120 and the disk case 100. Advantageously, some u-shaped grooves 162 a, 162 b (shown in FIG. 4) are formed on top of the rails 160 a, 160 b for enhancing the rails' engagement with the walls 320 a, 320 b of the disk tray 110.

Referring to FIG. 4, over the base 120 are mounted two resilient bars 170 a, 170 b, which are affixed to the base 120 at one end 172 a, 172 b. The other end 174 a, 174 b of the bars 170 a, 170 b is configured to contact and bias against the tray 110, at the curved portion 112 thereof. Accordingly, when the tray 110 is pushed inward, the resilient bars 170 a, 170 b exert a force against the movement of the tray 110 till it leaves contact with the bars 170 a, 170 b whereby the tray 110 gains a momentum to slide outward. The resilient bars 170 a, 170 b are preferably and economically made of plastic materials.

Over the base 120 of the disk case 100 are also mounted two hooks 410 a, 410 b. The hooks 410 a, 410 b work with corresponding islands 310 a, 310 b mounted on the back of the tray 110 to lock and release it. FIG. 5 provides an illustrative example of how the hooks 410 a, 410 b and the islands 310 a, 310 b interact to lock and release the tray 110.

Referring to FIG. 5, the island 310 a consists of two portions, a triangle part 510 and a guide part 520. The triangle part 510 has an indent 512 circumscribed by the extended portions 513 and 515 of the triangle 510. When the hook 410 a stays within the indent 512 of the triangle part 510, the tray 110 remains in a locked position inside the disk case 100, as shown in FIG. 1. When the tray 110 is forced inward from the locked position, the hook 410 a moves along the extended portion 515 and exits the indent 512 of the triangle part 510. The hook 410 a is thus disengaged from the island 310 a and sets free the tray 110 connected therewith. With the force exerted against the tray 110 by the resilient bars 170 a, 170 b, the tray is pushed out of the case 100, to an external, released position, as shown in FIG. 6. When it's positioned at least partially out of the case 100, a disk can be placed in and/or retrieved from the tray 110. Preferably, the hooks 410 a, 410 b are made of resilient materials such that the hooks 410 a, 410 b are configured to automatically return to an original state absent external force.

From the external, released position, the disk tray 110 can be pushed inward back to an internal, locked position, as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the hook 410 a moves along the outer side of the extended portion 513 towards the indent 512 when the disk tray 110 slides inwards from the external, locked position. While the hook 410 a stays inside the indent 512, it retains the island 310 a and the disk tray 110 at the internal, locked position.

Referring to FIG. 3, the disk tray 110 has a protruded portion 330 for holding and engaging a disk disposed thereupon. The protruded portion 330 may consist of a plurality of resilient tabs 332 a-332 c, which are biased against the circumference of the central aperture of the disk for engagement therewith. The tabs 332 a-332 c can be depressed to release the disk. By the same token, depressing the tabs 332 a-332 c reduces the circumference of the protruded portion 330, thus enabling snapping it through the central aperture of a disk.

FIG. 7 provides a top, elevated view of disk cases 100 that are arranged next to each other. A groove 710 a-710 b is formed in the top end 715 and bottom end 717 of the case 100 for receiving a vertical fastener 720. The vertical fastener 720 is preferably in H-shape, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the expanded portions 722 a-722 b can engage the grooves 710 a-710 b and attach the cases 100 vertically in a stable manner. The vertical fastener 720 is advantageously made of resilient materials such as plastic.

In some embodiments, the case 100 has bores 732 a-732 d formed in its front side 725 and back side 727, near the top end 715 and bottom end 717 of the case 100. A horizontal fastener 730, preferably in a long, narrow, and thin shape, is configured to fit its two expanded end portions 734 a-734 b into the bores 732 a-732 d, so as to attach the cases 100 horizontally in a stable manner. The horizontal fastener 730 is advantageously made of resilient materials such as plastic.

In some embodiments, the horizontal fasteners 730 are detachably connected to the base 120, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Each of the horizontal fasteners 730 can be separated from the base 120 for use with the groove 710 a-710 b. Similarly, the vertical fasteners 720 can be detachably connected to the case 100.

Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A case for containing a media disk, comprising: a base; a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk; wherein the tray is slidable above the base between an internal, locked position and an external, released position, and when the tray is forced inward from the locked position, the tray is pushed out to the external, released position.
 2. The case of claim 1, further comprising: a resilient bar mounted on the base for exerting bias against the tray when forced inward from the locked position.
 3. The case of claim 1, further comprising: a hook for engaging the tray when the tray is forced inward from the released position.
 4. The case of claim 3, wherein: the tray has an island mounted thereon for the hook to engage therewith, wherein the island forms a path for guiding the hook to a position to release the island when the tray is forced inward from the locked position.
 5. The case of claim 3, wherein the hook is made of a resilient material such that the hook is biased to return to an original state.
 6. The case of claim 1, further comprising: two rails mounted on the base, the two rails being spaced from each other and each forming a track for the tray to slide through.
 7. The case of claim 1, wherein the tray has a protruded portion for engaging the media disk.
 8. The case of claim 7, wherein the protruded portion consists of a plurality of resilient tabs, the tabs being biased against the circumference of the central aperture of the disk to engage the disk such that when the tabs are depressed, the disk is out of engagement by the tabs.
 9. A case for containing a media disk, comprising: a base; a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk; and a fastener for attaching the case to one another; wherein the cover and the base each have a groove that matches each other when in the closed configuration, and the grooves are adapted to receive the fastener.
 10. The case of claim 9, wherein the fastener includes two expanded portions in its two ends.
 11. The case of claim 9, wherein the fastener is detachably connected to the case.
 12. The case of claim 9, wherein the groove is of cove shape.
 13. A case for containing a media disk, comprising: a base; a cover pivotally connected with the base and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a tray disposed on the base for receiving the media disk; and a fastener for attaching the case to one another; wherein the cover and the base each have at least one bore adapted to receive the fastener.
 14. The case of claim 13 wherein the fastener includes two expanded portions in its two ends.
 15. The case of claim 13, wherein the fastener is detachably connected to the case.
 16. The case of claim 13, wherein the cover and the base each have two bores on the top portions and the bottom portions, respectively. 